Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-28


TO guide our souls 70 Heaven.
DoxoLoGy.
Praise God, from whom all blessings now;
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, yc heavenly host,
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
All the people will join in the singing.
ACCOMMODATIONS.
The church proper will seat between
twelve and thirteen hundred persons,
and two or three hundred more can
find accommodations in the lecture
room, which opens into the church,
and where, it is thought, a speaker can
be heard. Good arrangements have
been made for seating the congrega-
ton; but it is not believed that room
can possibly be found for all who
wish to be present. The church-doors
will be opened at 7 o'clock, and ser
vices will begin at 8 o'clock.
DIR. TALMAGE.
Dr. Talmage was born tifty-three
years ago at Bound Brook, n. J. He
read law for some time, resembling in
this respect one or two other prominent
Brooklyn pastors. After abandoning
the purpose of pursuing the legal pro-
fession DR.. Talmage graduated at the
University of the City of New York,
and then pursued his studies for the
ministry at the New Brunswick Theo-
logical Seminary. He preached for
some time in Belleyille, n. j., and
Syracuse, n. T., and subsequently car
ried on his ministry at Philadelphia for
seven years with ostunparalleled sue
cess. He gathered round him the largest
audiences in that city. During the last
year of his pastorate there the church
could not accommodate one fourth OF
the multitudes who besieged the doors.
The pew.holders were admittedthrough
n side door in the basement to avoid
the great rush of strangers at the en-
trance. About the same time (Febru-
airy, 1869 the Calvary church, of Chi
cago, and the Central church, of Brook
lyn, called him his people in Phila-
delphia offered every financial and So
cial inducement to him to remain where
he was. The peculiar condition of the
Brooklyn Central church seemed to
him to demand a sacrifice on his part,
and he tore himself from the attach
ed circle that had gathered round
him in the beautiful city in which
he had obtained celebrity, from the
vast and attached congregation to whom
he had SO long preached the Word OF
Life, to become the pastor of the Cen
tral Presbyterian church. on Schermer-
horn street between Ncyins and Powers
streets, in Brooklyn, where he was in
stalled on March 90, 1869. A brief ex-
perience proved the total inadequacy of
the edifice to the audiences attracted
by DR.. TaImage's S preaching. The first
tabernacle was built, and the old
church was used for a Sunday school
and eventually sold to the school COM
missioners. rhe burning of that
tabernacle in December, 1872, as
the people were on their way
TO the church is one of the recorded ca
lamities by fire that have happened in
that city. To the church which so late
ly had recovered from bankruptcy in
finances and in numbers, il seemed n
crushing blow, but DIR. Talmage was
not q man to be defeated by accidents,
however calamitous, from the call of
duty. The glory of the second house
was greater than that of the first, and
rs larger tabernacle will yet have to
be erected If the overflow that is turned
away every Sunday is ever 10 be housed,
80 did the present tabernacle, which
was opened on Washington's birthday,
1874, accommodate many hundreds for
whom its predecessor had had no room.
THE SPEAKER.
DIR. Talmage lectured in this city
some years ago, and many OF our peo-
pie went to hear him. Others of them
have heard him at the White Sulphur
Springs. The fact that he addresses
an audience of 5000 people every Sun
day attests his greatness as an orator
His whole bearing from the time he
makes his appearance, ascending the
stains to his place before the people,
and throughout the services is said to
be that OF a reverent, thoroughly earn
est man.
&" His voice is resonant but not musi-
cal, yet strong and full and managed
with such skill as TO send its thrilling
tones into the remotest parts of the au-
ditory. Both his matter and manner
are evidently his own, and both are
made TO produce wonderful effects upon
his hearers. Some times the hush of
death seems to pervade the house,
while tears are visible upon every
cheek, and anon the brightness of hope
and the sparkle of Joy light up every
eye. The great themes of the Gospel
applied to the phases of everyday life
form the staple of his preaching.
His command of words to illumine
his ideas is wonderful, while his imagi-
nation weaves beauty into his sen
tences that makes each sermon read
like prose-poem."
As viii be seen in the sketch above,
DR.. Talmage is Presbyterian.
COMING TO-DAY.
DIR. Talmsge will arrive here to-day
BY the fast-mail train, and his daughter,
Mrs. A. f. Donnan, who is now in New
York, will return here with him. Upon
reaching Richmond he will go directly
to Mr.. Donnsn's house, on west Frank
lin street. Tomorrow he will leave for
home.